Method and apparatus for transferring drive

ABSTRACT

A drive-transferring apparatus has a constraining guide ( 10 ) carrying a plurality of drive-transferring members ( 11 ) interconnected compressively. Drive members ( 13   a ) drive the drive-transferring members ( 11 ) about the constraining guide ( 10 ). One or more elongate apertures, such as slots ( 13 ), permit access to the drive-transferring members for connection of further members thereto, as well as for reading data carried by the drive-transferring members ( 11 ) or by members connected thereto.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for transferring drive.

For many years it has been known to transfer drive by means of direct,permanent mechanical interconnections. An example of such aninterconnection occurs when the output shaft of a motor is coupleddirectly to the member that the motor is intended to drive.

However, in many branches of industry it is commonly required totransfer objects over comparatively large distances and to apply driveat locations remote from eg a motor. It therefore is well known toemploy drive-transferring apparatuses such as belts, chains and geartrains in order to achieve these aims.

However, all known drive-transferring technologies are associated withsignificant disadvantages.

For example, drive belts and drive chains rely on the imparting oftensile forces in order to transfer drive. In drive belts, the use ofsuch forces causes gradual stretching of the belts. Similar effects areobserved in drive chains over time.

Prolonged use of belts and chains leads to failure, as a result offriction and wear in the belt/chain members. Failure of a drive beltusually necessitates replacement of the entire belt; or at best a repairthat significantly reduces the performance of the belt. Some belt andchain failures are dangerous, especially when fragments of such membersare thrown from an apparatus at speed.

It is possible to replace individual links of a drive chain, but this isoften a time-consuming process. Hitherto it has not been possible toautomate the repair of a broken link in a drive chain.

Gear trains do not suffer from the same disadvantages as belts andchains; however, they are sill prone to wear; they are expensive tomanufacture; and they generally require permanent installationsincluding bearings secured to fixed datum points. Also, gear trainsgenerally employ only rigid members and hence they lack some of theversatility inuring to belts and chains, that employ flexible members.

According to the invention in a broad aspect there is provided adrive-transferring apparatus comprising a constraining guide defining adrive-transfer path; and a plurality of drive-transferring membersmovably captive in the constraining guide; wherein

(i) the constraining guide includes one or more apertures permittingaccess to one or more of the drive-transferring members; and

(ii) the drive-transferring members are capable of transferring drivebetween discrete parts of the constraining guide by means of compressiveinterconnections.

This apparatus overcomes at least some of the disadvantages of the priorart.

In particular, the transferring of drive by compressive interconnectionmeans that tensile failure of components of the apparatus is mostunlikely to occur. Furthermore, the use of compressive interconnectionmeans that the drive-transferring members need not be permanentlyconnected together. This in turn means that individualdrive-transferring members can readily be repaired or replaced in theapparatus, thereby obviating the difficulties associated with repair ofdrive belts and drive chains.

The failure modes of apparatuses according to the invention are saferthan in the prior art. This is partly because the constraining guide canbe designed substantially to enclose all the moveable parts of thedevice. Thus, component failure may be contained safely within theconstraining guide, even when the apparatus is operating at high speed.

Additionally, the use of compressive interconnection means that parts ofthe apparatus are less likely to be thrown outwardly of the apparatusduring failure.

The use of compressive interconnection also means that thedrive-transferring elements can be made of materials and shapesinherently resistant to wear and damage yet which also are associatedwith low frictional forces, thereby improving the efficiency of theapparatus. Particularly suitable shapes for the drive-transferringmembers are spherical and spheroidal shapes.

All the components of the apparatus of the invention may if desired bemanufactured from rigid materials. Thus, it is possible to produce adrive-transferring apparatus that is versatile in terms of the locationsbetween which drive may be transferred; yet which does not suffer fromthe known disadvantages of flexible drive-transferring members such asbelts and chains.

Another possibility is for e.g. the constraining guide to be flexible.This confers versatility on the apparatus of the invention. Onepreferred form of flexible constraining guide is a hose-likeconstruction that may be formed into a variety of shapes whilepermitting movement of the drive-transferring members in the mannerdefined above.

Further, advantageous features of the invention are set out in claims2-91 appended hereto.

In another broad aspect, the invention is considered to reside in amethod of transferring drive comprising imparting motion to one or moreof a plurality of drive-transferring members loosely captive in aconstraining guide, whereby to cause compressive interconnection of aplurality of said members and thereby transfer drive in the constrainingguide.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of theinvention, by way of example, with reference being made to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 2 shows an optional branch in the constraining guide visible inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows part of the FIG. 1 embodiment in more detail;

FIG. 4 is a variant on the FIG. 3 arrangement;

FIG. 5 shows one form of multiple branching of the constraining guidevisible in eg. FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows an arrangement for lubricating part of the FIG. 1embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a variant on the FIG. 6 arrangement;

FIG. 8 shows some further optional features of the invention;

FIG. 9 shows the apparatus of the invention configured for garmentdistribution;

FIGS. 10a-10 f show various embodiments of the constraining guide;

FIG. 11 shows an apparatus for controlling drive-transferring members ata junction;

FIGS. 12a and 12 b show an alternative form of the constraining guide;

FIG. 13 shows a three-dimensional array of constraining guides installedin a warehouse;

FIGS. 14a, 14 b, 14 c and 14 d show arrays of constraining guides invehicles;

FIGS. 15a and 15 b show a possible reservoir of drive-transferringmembers;

FIGS. 16 and 17 show flat bed conveyors embodying the principles of theinvention;

FIGS. 18 and 19 show typical layouts of conveyors according to theinvention;

FIGS. 20a and 20 b shows a further vehicle including a three dimensionalarray of constraining guides;

FIGS. 21a and 21 b show a motor according to the invention;

FIG. 22 shows an optional feature of the constraining guide;

FIG. 23 shows an embodiment of drive-transferring member; and

FIG. 24 shows a further embodiment of drive-transferring member.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a constraining guide 10 in theform of tubular member. The tubular member 10 has a hollow, elongateinterior substantially filled with a line of contiguous bead-likedrive-transferring members 11. A driven member shown schematically at 13protrudes through the wall of constraining guide 10 and imparts drive tosuccessive drive-transferring members 11. This causes drive to betransferred along the constraining guide 10 in a compressive manner.

Driven member 13 protrudes through an aperture in the wall ofconstraining guide 10. A similar aperture may be provided at a locationremote from driven members 13, whereby drive may be taken from theapparatus if desired. Apertures may be formed in the wall ofconstraining guide 10 at virtually any desired location. The aperturesmay, if desired, be closable eg by means of automatic or manuallyoperated closures. One form of closure is described below in relation toa drive-transferring member ejection apparatus.

The driven member 13 may be a star wheel as shown schematically in FIG.1, or may be a drive screw. Numerous other, equivalent arrangements mayalso be employed for imparting linear motion to the drive-transferringmembers 11. Nonetheless, a driven member 13 that converts rotary motion(eg from an electric motor) to linear motion is preferred.

As is evident in FIGS. 3 and 4, constraining guide 10 may include anelongate slot 13. This permits access to one or more of thedrive-transferring members 11 along a lengthy portion of theconstraining guide 10. This in turn permits one or more further membersto be engaged with the line of contiguous members 11, thereby givingrise to a transport apparatus.

In the FIG. 3 embodiment, the constraining guide 10 is generallyrectangular in cross-section, with the elongate slot 13 formed in one ofthe vertical sides of the guide 10. This permits a member such as rod 14connected to a member 11 to protrude generally horizontally from theapparatus. This in turn permits articles to be carried on the apparatusby means of suspension from rod 14.

If desired, a second constraining guide 10 that is the mirror image ofconstraining guide 10 shown in FIG. 3 may be disposed to provide supportat each end of rod 14. It is believed to be desirable, but notessential, for the mirror image constraining guide 10 to contain aplurality of members such as the drive-transferring members 11. However,such members need not necessarily be driven as in the embodiment of FIG.1, and could under some circumstances be dispensed with entirely so thatthe further constraining guide serves simply as a support for theotherwise free end of rod 14.

In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the elongate slot 13 extends along the bottomof a generally circular cross-section constraining guide 10. Thispermits the carrying of a plurality of hangers 16. This version of theinvention may be of utility in the garment manufacturing and/orwarehousing industries.

As is evident from FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the drive-transferring members arespheroidal in shape. Thus, they are well suited for transferring driveby means of compressive interaction. Furthermore, the members 11 rolleasily within the guide 10, thereby minimising wear and friction.

However, the members 11 may be of numerous other shapes includingcompletely spherical; cylindrical and even polygonal.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 a plurality or indeed all of themembers 11 include an aperture and a detent for securing to a furthermember such as rod 14 or hanger 16.

FIGS. 2 and 5 show that the constraining guide 10 may be branched in anumber of ways, whereby to transfer drive to several locationssimultaneously. If necessary, the branch lines of the constraining guide10 may include further driven members such as member 13 a shownschematically in FIG. 1. The further driven members may, in common withthe driven member 13, take a variety of forms according to thearrangement of the apparatus.

FIG. 1 shows a further branch 17 in the guide 10, for replenishing theguide 10 with members 11. Branch 17 may be constituted as aspring-loaded store of members 11 separated in normal use of theapparatus from the remainder of guide 10 by a moveable wall shownschematically at 18 in FIG. 1. If it is necessary to increase the numberof members 11 within the guide 10, the wall 18 may be removed either byan automatic mechanism or manually in order to allow one or moreadditional members 11 to be dispensed from branch 17 into the main partof guide 10.

FIG. 1 also shows a closable aperture 19 that may be employed forselectively removing members 11 from the main part of guide 10. This maybe required, for example when a member 11 a becomes damaged or broken.

In the embodiments shown, aperture 19 includes a slidable cover 20 thatmay be withdrawn to one side to allow the damaged member 11 a to fallinto a receptacle 22 secured to the underside of constraining guide 10.

Instead of a receptacle, the damaged member 11 a may enter a conveyorfor removing it to a waste receptacle or repair area.

FIG. 6 shows an optional portion of guide 10 formed as a downwardlyextending curve 10 a. This portion of the constraining guide 10 containsa pool of lubricant 23. Thus, drive-transferring members 11 passingthrough the portion of guide 10 shown in FIG. 6 automatically receive acoating of lubricant.

Curved portion 10 a need not be present if the materials chosen for thecomponents do not require lubrication by immersion in a liquid. Forexample, the materials of the mutually engaging parts of thedrive-transferring members and the constraining guide may be chosen tohave a low coefficient of friction. Another possibility is for thedrive-transferring members, and/or the relevant parts of theconstraining guide to be impregnated, coated or otherwise treated with alubricant.

Downwardly directed curves 10 a may be located at appropriate pointsalong the guide 10 in order to provide lubrication for the members 11throughout the apparatus. If desired, the portion 10 a may beautomatically or manually refillable with lubricant, eg by means ofsuitable apertures.

The drive members 11 may be manufactured from any of a variety ofmaterials. However, it is envisaged that a generally rigid copolymerwould be most appropriate in terms of cost and durability. The materialof the drive members 11 can be chosen to have a low coefficient offriction with the constraining guide 10.

The guide 10 may typically extruded eg from aluminium or an aluminiumalloy; however, a number of other materials, including flexiblematerials, may also be used.

The sliding cover 20 shown in relation to aperture 19 (which may also beemployed on other apertures in the apparatus) may be motorised eg bymeans of a solenoid actuator itself operated under the control of anoptical or other sensor.

The constraining guide 10 is shown in the drawings to be an open-endedelongate device. However, it is most likely that in practicalembodiments of the invention the constraining guide 10 would constitutea closed loop whereby to avoid the need for constant replenishment ofthe members 11. However, in applications where the drive to thetransferred is reciprocatory, it may be desirably economical to employan open-ended constraining guide 10 as shown.

As shown in FIG. 7, the constraining guide 10 may be shaped in a varietyof ways to accommodate obstacles, etc. in a warehouse or factory.

The constraining guide 10 may be supported at intervals, eg. bysuspenders 24 extending downwardly from the ceiling of a building.

The lubricating trough or pool 23 of FIG. 6 is also visible in FIG. 7.There is, in addition, a bypass path for the constraining guide 10 sothat the drive-transferring members 11 need only enter the lubricatingtrough 23 as necessary. Controlling gates (examples of which aredescribed hereinbelow) may be employed selectively to divert thedrive-transferring members through the lubricating trough 23 as desired.

FIG. 8 shows some further ways in which the constraining guide 10 may beformed. As shown at 25 a and 25 b, the constraining guide may be formedinto coils for encircling a further component eg. a sensor for detectingthe presence of the drive-transferring members 11.

The drive member 13 a is shown schematically protruding through the wallof constraining guide 10 in FIG. 8.

FIG. 8 also shows a branch 27 in the constraining guide, included forthe purpose of replenishing the constraining guide 10 withdrive-transferring members 11 as necessary.

Gate members 28 protruding through the wall of constraining guide 10 inthe vicinity of junction 27 are laterally slideable selectively to openand close the junction 27 and thereby allow one or more freshdrive-transferring members 11 to fall into the constraining guide 10.

Similar gate members may be installed at a further junction 29 for thepurpose of selectively removing drive-transferring members 11 fromconstraining guide 10.

A detector of fractures or other failures in the drive-transferringmembers 11 may be operative at point F in FIG. 8 to cause opening of thejunction 29 and ejection of drive-transferring members when faults inthe drive-transferring members 11 are detected.

Gate members 28 moveable for selective interposing in the paths of thedrive-transferring member 11 may also be supplied at branches such as30. Computer control of the gate members permits guiding of thedrive-transferring members along a selected branch of constraining guide10.

FIG. 9 shows a specific example of this form of the invention, in agarment distribution warehouse. A plurality of garment hangers 32 aresecured to the drive-transferring members 11 via the elongate slot 13. Ajunction such as 27 of FIG. 8 allows replenishment of drive-transferringmembers as necessary. A further junction such as 30 allows diverting ofthe garments to a predetermined destination.

If desired, the drive-transferring members may be encoded as describedin detail below in order to predetermine their path along theconstraining guide 10.

In the FIG. 10, various forms of the constraining guide 10 anddrive-transferring member 11 are shown.

In FIG. 10a, constraining guide 10 is an elongate, hollow, squaresection member having an elongate slot in its lower face.

In FIG. 10b, constraining guide 10 comprises an inner, elongate, hollowtubular member 33 surrounded by an outer such member 34. Elongate slot13 passes through both tubular members 33 and 34. Thus it is possible toemploy drive-transferring members as shown having one or more downwardlyprojecting portions 35.

In the preferred embodiment, the inner tubular member 33 has a lowcoefficient of friction with the parts of the drive-transferring members11 with which it is in contact. Outer tubular member 34 is preferably ofa rigid material, and as shown in FIG. 10c may be armoured or otherwisestrengthened.

The drive-transferring members 11 may in this embodiment comprise a pairof rollers 37 spaced from one another and mounted on a common axle 38. Acentral member 39 of approximately rectangular shape occupies the spacebetween the rollers 37. Axle 38 passes through an aperture in centralmember 39.

Downwardly projecting member 35 is releasably secured to a portion ofcentral member 39 extending a short distance beyond slot 13.

Downwardly projecting member 35 includes an aperture for receiving eg.the hook of a garment hanger 32. Downwardly projecting member 35 isencoded eg. by means of a bar code 40, by implanting of a radiofrequency identification tag or in another optical, audible or otherwisetransmissible manner.

This embodiment of the invention is of particular use during productmanufacture and distribution. On manufacture of a garment, it is hung ona hanger 32 the hook of which is inserted into the aperture of a member35. This member 35 may then remain uniquely associated with the producton hanger 32 during its transport via an apparatus according to theinvention to eg. the interior of a lorry, for subsequent distribution toa warehouse or retail unit.

During this process the bar code or other code 40 may be readperiodically to ensure correct routing of the drive-transferring memberto which the downwardly projecting member 35 is secured. Such routingmay be achieved through operation of the gate members 28 describedhereinabove in the apparatus of the invention.

When the garment reaches a final or intermediate destination, thedownwardly projecting member 35 may be removed from thedrive-transferring member. In the embodiment shown this is achievedthrough use of a slidable dovetail joint, but other methods ofreleasably securing the downwardly projecting member may also beemployed.

After removal of the downwardly projecting member 35, thedrive-transferring member 11 to which it was formerly attached may berecycled within the constraining guide for receipt of another downwardlyprojecting member 35; alternatively the drive-transferring member 11 maybe passed to a reservoir before subsequent use.

FIGS. 10e and 10 f show alternative profiles for the constraining guide10.

FIG. 10f also shows a ball and socket joint 35 a for connection of thedownwardly projecting member 35. Such a joint permits rotation about avertical axis. This may be of benefit in some manufacturing anddistributing environments.

In the FIG. 10b embodiment, each drive-transferring member 11 includes aradio frequency identification tag 42 that remains secured to thedrive-transferring member 11 after removal of the bar coded downwardlyprojecting member 35 as shown. Such an arrangement permits controlledrecycling of the drive-transferring members 11.

FIG. 11 shows an alternative form of the gate members 28 controlling theflow of drive-transferring members in the constraining guide.

In this arrangement the gate 28 comprises a blade 43 slidably mountedvia an elongate slot 44 on a pillar 45 itself rigidly secured relativeto the constraining guide 10.

A connection member 46 interconnects blade 43 and slot 44.

A bar code reader 47 is mounted forwardly of pillar 45 for reading barcodes associated with the drive-transferring members 11. In this case,the drive-transferring members are all spherical and have the relevantbar codes printed on their bodies.

The spherical members may be weighted to ensure that the bar codes arecorrectly oriented.

The blade 43 may be interposed under the action of eg. a solenoid orother motive device when the bar code reader determines that the branch10 of FIG. 11 is to be closed, and that the drive-transferring membersare to travel under the influence of a driven member 13 along the branch10 b.

The bar code reader 47 may of course be linked to a suitable controldevice such as a microprocessor.

In FIGS. 12a and 12 b, there is shown an alternative form of theconstraining guide. This constraining guide comprises (in the embodimentshown) four rod-like members 50 that extend parallel to one another in asquare pattern, to define a comparatively open cage for constraining thedrive-transferring members 11 that are again in this embodimentspherical.

In this embodiment the drive-transferring members may respectively besecured to a load support 51 that engages the associateddrive-transferring member via the space between two adjacent rod-likemembers 50. In such an embodiment, the suspender 24 for the constrainingguide 10 may encircle the rod-like members 50 as shown and may includeone or more apertures 24 a, 24 b permitting passage therethrough of thesupport member 51 and any goods 52 supported thereby.

An alternative, downwardly projecting support member 51 a is also shownin FIGS. 12a and 12 b. Aperture 24 b in suspender 24 accommodates travelof such a member.

In FIG. 13, there is shown a three dimensional array of constrainingguides 10, installed within a warehouse 54.

Portions 10 ₁, 10 ₂, 10 ₃, 10 ₄, etc of the constraining guide 10 areopen ended on one side of the three dimensional array of constrainingguides, for receipt of eg. garments or other goods transported by theapparatus of the invention. Such goods may be delivered eg. by lorry orother vehicle from a factory or another distribution centre.

The goods transported on the apparatus fed into the array via the openended portions may be transported to any suitable storage point withinthe three dimensional array as indicated schematically. If desired,spiral portions 10″ of the constraining guide may be employed to raiseor lower goods as desired. The use of such spiral portions brings thegoods into contact with a plurality of further parts of the array.

Crossings of portions of the constraining guide 10 may include junctionssuch as 27, 29 or 30 previously described, in order to provide forrouting of individual goods to any preferred location within the arrayin dependence on the encoding of such goods.

Further, open-ended portions of the constraining guide 10′₁, etc may beprovided in a dispatch area preferably located on the opposite side ofthe three dimensional array. The goods to be dispatched may betransported into vehicles such as those shown in FIG. 13 for onwarddispatch to further distribution centres, retail units or otherlocations.

A computer control system may be employed to ensure routing of the goodswithin the three dimensional array, according to encoding of either thedrive-transferring members 11 or members attached thereto. This willallow significant reductions in staffing levels at warehouses.

Referring now to FIG. 14a, a vehicle 55 such as that shown in FIG. 13 isshown in greater detail.

Vehicle 55 includes formed therein a further three dimensional array ofthe constraining guides 10. In the embodiment shown, the constrainingguides permit vertical movement of intermediate, connecting bars 56 andhorizontal movement of such bars along the interior of the vehicle, asdesired.

Two portions 110 a and 110 b are hingeably secured to the threedimensional array formed within the lorry. The hingeable portions 110 aand 110 b may be hinged outwardly from an initial, flush position toprotrude from the rear of the vehicle for engagement with the outer,open ended portions 10′₁, 10′₂, 10′₃, 10′₄ of the three dimensionalarray in the warehousing building 54.

If desired, the hingeable portions 110 a, 110 b may be secured to orformed within the rear doors of the vehicle.

Alternatively the portions 110 a, 110 b may be slideable into and out ofthe vehicle. In such cases the portions 110 a, 110 b retain theorientation shown throughout their movements.

The free ends of the portions 10′₁, 10′₂, etc include gate members 57that in the embodiment shown are simple pins inserted through alignedholes formed in opposite sides of the constraining guide 10, to preventthe drive-transferring members 11 from falling out of the apertures atthe ends of the constraining guide portions 10′₁, 10′₂, etc.

If desired, flexible portions may be included in such parts of theconstraining guide to ensure mating of the hingeable portions 110 a, 110b with the corresponding junctions defined at the free ends of theconstraining guide.

The hingeable portion and/or the free ends 10′₁, 10′₂, etc. may ifnecessary include clips or other means of securing them to the portionsof constraining guide that abut them on manoeuvring of the vehicle 55 toa loading or unloading position.

Although the arrangement shown in FIG. 14a concerns loading of goodsonto a vehicle, it will be appreciated that a similar arrangement may beemployed for unloading of the vehicle when it reaches its destination.

The vehicle 55 may include a microprocessor or other controller devicefor routing the garments, eg. as supported on the bars 56, within thevehicle in dependence on encoding of the drive-transferring members 11or further members secured thereto.

Such an arrangement may permit organisation of goods within the vehicleas it travels, thereby speeding unloading of goods at the vehicle'sdestination.

An alternative array of constraining guides in a vehicle 54 is shown inFIG. 14b.

In this arrangement the deck of the vehicle contains a grid-like arrayof interconnected constraining guides 10, the interconnections includingjunctions as necessary such as junctions 27, 29 and 30 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 14d shows the floor plan of the vehicle, that optionally includesside doors that permit rapid unloading of the vehicle. The side doorsminimise the movement of goods needed within the vehicle to achievespeedy unloading.

This arrangement is intended to support a pallet such as pallet 58 ofFIG. 14c.

Pallet 58 includes a plurality of selectively downwardly moveablemembers 59 for engagement with selected drive-transferring members 11 inthe array of constraining guide 10.

Depending on encoding of either the pallet or the drive-transferringmembers, the pallet may drivingly engage predetermineddrive-transferring member 11 in order to move the pallet within thevehicle.

If desired, one or more grid squares of the array shown in FIG. 14b maybe left blank to provide room for manoeuvring the pallets within thevehicle.

Alternatively, a grid extension 60 (optionally supported on leg 61) ofconstraining guide members 10 may project from eg. the rear of thevehicle to provide such space for manoeuvring.

FIG. 14b also shows an equivalent array of constraining guides 10′″ atan upper level within the body of the vehicle 54, for manoeuvringpallets 58 in a second tier within the vehicle.

If desired, the entire array of upper constraining guide 10′″ can beheight-adjustable on eg. suitable hoist motors within the vehicle 54.

The computer control may if desired be operable on the upper tier ofdrive-transferring members as well.

Furthermore, suitable extensions 60″ may be provided to permitmanoeuvring of the pallets 58 on the upper tier.

As in the embodiment of FIG. 14a, the constraining guides 10 of FIGS.14b and 14 c may if desired be connectable to eg. the free ends10′₁,10′₂, 10′₃ as shown in FIG. 14a.

Referring now to FIGS. 15a and 15 b, there is shown a reservoir 63 ofencoded drive-transferring members 11 for use in a warehouse, factory orvehicle based environment such as those of FIGS. 13 to 14.

As is shown in detail in FIG. 15b, the reservoir 63 is subdivided into aplurality of compartments. Each compartment contains a plurality ofdrive-transferring members 11 encoded in a predetermined way, eg. toindicate to a control device controlling operation of the apparatus ofthe invention the destination of goods to be carried by the apparatus.This is shown schematically in FIG. 15a.

A plurality of gate members such as gate members 28 as describedhereinabove, may selectively control the feeding of drive-transferringmembers into the constraining guide 10. This may be achieved eg. independence on intervention by the operator of a garment manufacturing orfinishing machine may on completion of each garment indicate the kind ofdrive-transferring member 11 (in terms of its encoding) to be added tothe constraining guide 10, prior to attachment of the garment hanger 32for the most recently completed garment thereto. In this way, withinseconds of their manufacture or finishing the garments are associatedwith drive-transferring members of the apparatus of the invention thatare encoded as to their destinations. Such encoding may be carried withthe garments throughout their journeys to final destinations, suchjourneys possibly embracing travel through warehouse-based systems asshown in FIG. 13 and in vehicles such as those of FIG. 14.

Referring now to FIG. 16, there is shown a flatbed conveyor powered by apair of constraining guides 10 according to the invention.

Flatbed conveyor 63 includes a plurality of horizontal slats or plates64 secured one adjacent another on a pair of parallel, mutually spacedconstraining guides 10 according to the invention.

Each of the slats or plates 64 is slidingly engaged on its undersidewith one or more of the drive-transferring members 11 of one or both theconstraining guides 10 shown in FIG. 16.

The slats or plates 64 may be linked together eg. by means of slidinglinks, or may be mutually disconnected from one another.

The key advantage of using constraining guides according to theinvention in the FIG. 16 embodiment is that the constraining guides maybe driven at different speeds from one another when it is required todrive the flatbed conveyor 63 around a bend as shown.

A branch 10 a of the constraining guide stands at the infeed to the bendnegotiated by the outer constraining guide. Constraining guide branch 10a feeds additional drive-transferring members 11 into the constrainingguide, in order to permit faster travel of the outer part of the flatbedconveyor in the vicinity of the bend. At the termination of the bend, afurther branch 10 b of the constraining guide 10 may remove the excessconstraining guides in order to permit the two constraining guides 10 tofollow a straight line path at the same speed.

For the avoidance of doubt, in the FIG. 16 embodiment, the flatbedconveyor 63 travels in the direction of the arrows C.

Suitable gates such as gate members 28 may be employed at the junctionsbetween the branch portions 10 a and 10 b and the main constrainingguide forming the outer part of the curve.

As shown in FIG. 17, the slats or plates 64 may be constructed in twoportions 64 a, 64 b. One of the two portions 64 a may be hollow forreceiving the free end of the other portion 64 b of the slat 64. Aresilient connection indicated schematically by spring 65 may permitresilient compression and/or extension of the elongate length of eachslat or plate 64. This allows the slats or plates to accommodate changesin the spacing between the two constraining guides 10 visible in FIG.17.

Thus the apparatus of the invention permits construction firstly of aconveyor that is able to negotiate bends through use of variable speeddrives as shown in FIG. 16; and secondly of a conveyor the width ofwhich may vary in dependence on the spacing between the pair ofconstraining guides 10.

Hitherto it has not been possible to devise a powered conveyor the widthof which varies at different points about its travel.

FIG. 18 shows in plan view a typical conveyor layout for use eg. in apacking area or product finishing area of a factory or warehouse.

The constraining guides 10 are shown schematically, as are the branches10 a and 10 b of FIG. 16. The slats or plates 64 of the conveyor areomitted from FIG. 18 for clarity.

A further layout of constraining guide members 10 is shown in FIG. 19.In this figure there is a main constraining guide loop 10 driven by amain drive member 13 driven by a motor (not visible in FIG. 19).

A branch loop 10 c may selectively divert drive-transferring members 11from the main loop 10 and may pass through eg. a protective wall 66 intoa hazardous area, a clean room, or other processing area 67 to whichhuman access is normally denied.

In the embodiment shown, there is a single constraining guide (ascompared with the parallel pair of constraining guides of eg. FIG. 18),that in the processing area 67 passes about the periphery of a rotatabletable or dais 68. Contact of the drive-transferring members of thebranch loop constraining guide 10 c with a suitable surface formed inthe periphery of the rotatable dais 68 may cause driven rotationthereof. If necessary, a further driven member represented schematicallyat 13 c may be provided to power the drive-transferring members aroundthe branch loop 10 c to achieve this.

The drive-transferring members 11 may transfer their drive in other waysas desired within the processing area 67.

Referring now to FIG. 20a, there is shown a vehicle comprising aframework 70 constituted predominantly of constraining guides 10 ofapparatus according to the invention.

The constraining guides 10 of the framework 70 are in the embodimentshown each formed as parallel, mutually spaced polygonal shapes rigidlyinterconnected by struts 71 disposed at intervals about the periphery ofthe polygonal shape visible in FIG. 20a.

Each constraining guide 10 includes a junction 72 that may be similar tothose eg. on the hingeable portions of the constraining guides of FIG.14, for connection with further constraining guide portions 10 conveyinggoods from eg. a factory or warehouse.

In the embodiment shown, such constraining guides extend in parallel,and pairs of drive-transferring members 11 in the respective parallelconstraining guides are interconnected by rigid rods 72 that each havesuspended therefrom a goods tray 73.

It will be apparent that by connecting the constraining guides 10constituting the bulk of frame 70 of the vehicle of FIG. 20a, the goodstrays 73 may be conveyed onto the vehicle for rotation either by meansof a motor or by hand about the periphery of frame 70. This permits eg.a worker shown schematically at 74 to fill or empty the trays asdesired.

FIG. 20b shows one way in which the rods 72 may be received in thedrive-transferring members 11. In FIG. 20b the elongate slot 13 of theconstraining guide 10 faces horizontally to receive the horizontallyextending rod 72. If necessary, a detent may be employed to retain theend of the rod 72 in an aperture formed in the drive-transferring member11 that in the embodiment shown is formed as spherical element.

In the FIG. 20b embodiment, the portion of the rod 72 interconnectingthe two drive-transferring members is dispensed with. Interconnection ofthe drive-transferring members 11 is achieved through rigidity of thetray 73.

FIG. 20a also shows a cap 76 that may be used to close the free end ofthe constraining guides 10 when the vehicle is moved away from theposition shown. The vehicle includes wheels for this purpose.

FIGS. 21a and 21 b show the apparatus of the invention configured as amotor 80.

In this embodiment, a plurality of the constraining guides 10 extendparallel to one another and are each looped about respective, spacedrollers 81, 82.

As shown in FIG. 21b, in this embodiment slot 13 is omitted fromconstraining guide 10. Instead, the wall of constraining guide 10 ismanufactured from an open mesh-like material that permits contactbetween the drive-transferring members 11 and further members exposedoutside the constraining guide 10.

It will thus be appreciated that if roller 81 is driven eg. by means ofelectric motor 83, the rotation of roller 81 is transferred to linearmotion of the drive-transferring members 11. Since thedrive-transferring members travel from roller 81 to roller 82, as theypass over roller 82 their drive is transferred to roller 82 that isthereby caused to rotate.

A series of brake members 84 may be selectively brought into contactwith the constraining guides 10 shown in FIG. 21b. The lowermost brakemember 84 e may be arranged to contact only the extreme left handconstraining guide visible in FIG. 21b; the next uppermost may bearranged only to contact the constraining guide immediately to the rightthereof, and so on, whereby on lowering the brake members downwardly inthe direction of arrow B in FIG. 21 the constraining guides may besuccessively slowed or brought to a stop. This in turn reduces theenergy transferred to roller 82 in a progressive manner, thereby slowingor stopping it as desired.

The brake members 84 a may be mounted on a lever or may be actuated bymeans of eg. a solenoid or other motor, if necessary in dependence oncontrol signals generated in eg. a microprocessor or other controller.

Each brake member may include a brake pad 86 (best shown in FIG. 21b)offset laterally from the brake pad in a neighbouring brake memberwhereby to dedicate a given brake member 84 to the slowing or stoppingof the drive-transferring members in a predetermined constraining guide10.

As shown in FIG. 21b, the drive-transferring members 11 preferably havea rigid central zone surrounded by a deformable outer coating.

The mesh-like outer covering of the constraining guides 10 shown in FIG.21 may for example be supplied for safety purposes over the rods 50 ofFIG. 12, thereby preventing articles from becoming entrained or trappedin the constraining guide thereof. In such an arrangement, the mesh maybe of a closer weave whereby to prevent access of eg. human digits tothe drive-transferring members 11.

Referring now to FIG. 22, there is shown a window 88 formed in a portionof a constraining guide 10 according to the invention. Window 88, whichmay be covered eg. by a perspex material, permits reading of opticalencoding information that is carried directly on the drive-transferringmember 11 visible in FIG. 22. Such encoding information (which may be inthe form of bar codes or other optical codes) may be printed directlyonto the drive-transferring member, or may be carried by eg. a stickersecured to the drive-transferring member.

The window 88 may also permit eg. the reading of a radio frequencyidentification tag secured to the drive-transferring member 10.

The readers for the bar codes and/or radio frequency or otheridentification tags, may if desired be enclosed within coils 25 of theconstraining guide 10 as shown in FIG. 8. Thus the code readingapparatus may be protected against damage and contamination, and thewindows 88 may also be protected against damage. When the windows 88 donot include a cover such as a sheet of perspex or glass, theirpositioning on the inner face of a coil such as coils 25 or 25 aprevents inadvertent contact of other objects with thedrive-transferring members 11. Thus the safety of the apparatus isassured.

FIG. 23 shows an alternative design of the drive-transferring member 11shown eg. in FIG. 10. In this embodiment the rollers 37 have a roughedor serrated outer periphery, for gripping the interior of theconstraining guide 10.

FIG. 23 also shows one possible location for the radio frequencyidentification tag 42. As shown, the tag is located in the hub of theaxle 38.

In FIG. 24, there is shown an arrangement by which the bars 56 of theFIG. 14a arrangement may be supported relative to the drive-transferringmembers 11. As shown, each drive-transferring member 11 has projectingoutwardly therefrom a cup 89 that protrudes beyond the slot 13 ofconstraining guide 10 in a horizontal direction. Each bar 56 has areduced diameter portion 56 a at either end that is receivable under theaction of gravity in the cup 89, whereby to support the bar 56 at eitherend. When the drive-transferring members 11 are computer controlled, itis possible to maintain the bars 56 horizontal throughout their travel.

Any of the optional embodiments described herein in relation to FIGS. 1to 24 may be employed on their own, or in conjunction with others of theoptional embodiments as desired.

The components of the invention may be manufactured from a variety ofmaterials, as appropriate. For example, the components may bemanufactured from materials suitable for use in different industriessuch as the food industry, chemical processing industry and thepharmaceutical industry. Corrosion free (eg. non-metallic) materials maybe employed as appropriate.

The constraining guides 10 may be manufactured from flexible materialsor rigid material as desired.

Self-lubricating materials may also be used as appropriate. For example,sintered materials that dispense lubricants as they wear may be employedfor the interior of the constraining guide 10 and, optionally, for thedrive-transferring members 11.

The windows 88 may also be used to indicate the completion of actionseg. in process plant. For example, the presence of an encodeddrive-transferring member in a chosen window 88 may indicate the thelapsing of a predetermined amount of time from the completion of aprevious process, by virtue of travel of the drive-transferring members11 a predetermined distance along the constraining guides 10.

Reservoirs for receiving drive-transferring members 11 from andsupplying drive-transferring members 11 to the constraining guides 10may be operatively connected to the constraining guides 10 at suitablelocations, as desired. In the case of the vehicles of FIG. 14, thereservoirs may be located eg. under the floor of the vehicle, wherethere is conventionally a significant “dead” space.

What is claimed is:
 1. A drive-transferring apparatus, comprising: adrive assembly; a constraining guide defining a drive-transfer path; anda plurality of non-permanently connected drive-transferring membersmovably captive in the constraining guide for movement along thedrive-transfer path and drivably engaged with the drive assembly,wherein: (i) the constraining guide includes at least one aperturepermitting engagement of the drive-transferring members with at leastone load support for articles in a drive-transferring manner; (ii) atleast a plurality of the drive-transferring members are compressivelyinterengaged for transferring drive from one drive-transferring memberto the next along the drive-transfer path; at least a plurality of thecompressively interengaged drive-transferring members being nonrotatableand slidable along the constraining guide, the drive-transferringmembers being moved by an external drive means; and (iii) at least oneof the drive-transferring members includes means for conveyinginformation relating to the drive-transferring members to a receiver forfurther processing.
 2. A conveyor, comprising: a constraining guidedefining a drive-transfer path; a plurality of non-permanently connecteddrive-transferring members movably captive in the constraining guide andmovable along the drive-transfer path; and a drive assembly operable toengage at least one of the drive-transferring members to move theplurality of drive-transferring members; wherein: (i) the constrainingguide includes at least one aperture permitting engagement of thedrive-transferring members with at least one load support for articlesin a drive-transferring manner; (ii) the drive-transferring members aremovable by means of compressive interconnection, and at least a portionof each of at least a plurality of the drive-transferring members isnonrotatable, and moves by translation relative to the constrainingguide, the drive-transferring members being moved by an external drivemeans; and (iii) at least one of the drive-transferring members includesmeans for conveying information relating to the drive-transferringmembers to a receiver for further processing.
 3. A conveyor, comprising:a constraining guide defining a drive-transfer path; a plurality ofnon-permanently connected drive-transferring members movably captive inthe constraining guide and movable along the drive-transfer path; and adrive assembly operable to engage at least one of the drive-transferringmembers to move the plurality of drive-transferring members; wherein:(i) the constraining guide includes at least one aperture permittingengagement of the drive-transferring members with at least one loadsupport for articles in a drive-transferring manner; (ii) thedrive-transferring members are movable by means of compressiveinterconnection via an external drive means, each drive-transferringmember having a nonrotatable body and at least one roller that iscaptured in the constraining guide and that supports the nonratatablebody, the nonrotatable body projecting beyond the radius of the at leastone roller to engage a nonrotatable body of an adjacentdrive-transferring member; and (iii) at least one of thedrive-transferring members includes means for conveying informationrelating to the drive-transferring members to a receiver for furtherprocessing.
 4. A conveyor according to claim 3 wherein the constrainingguide defines an endless loop.
 5. A conveyor according to claim 3wherein the constraining guide is elongate.
 6. A conveyor according toclaim 5 wherein an aperture in the constraining guide is elongate andgenerally parallel to the axis of elongation of the constraining guide.7. A conveyor according to claim 6 wherein the constraining guide is achannel-section member.
 8. A conveyor according to claim 3 wherein aplurality of the drive-transferring members are substantially contiguouswith one another in the constraining guide when at rest.
 9. A conveyoraccording to claim 8 wherein the plurality of drive-transferring membersform a substantially contiguous line of such members in the constrainingguide.
 10. A conveyor according to claim 3 wherein eachdrive-transferring member includes means for transmitting information.11. A conveyor according to claim 10 wherein the means for transmittinginformation includes an optical code.
 12. A conveyor according to claim11 wherein the optical code is a bar code.
 13. A conveyor according toclaim 11 wherein the bar code is secured on the drive-transferringmember.
 14. A conveyor according to claim 10 wherein the constrainingguide includes an opening permitting detection of the optical code. 15.A conveyor according to claim 10 wherein the drive-transferring memberincludes a further member supporting the means for transmittinginformation.
 16. A conveyor according to claim 15 wherein the furthermember is detachably secure to the drive-transferring member.
 17. Aconveyor according to claim 3 wherein each drive transferring member isof a shape generally complementary to the cross-sectional shape of theconstraining guide, whereby to facilitate movement of thedrive-transferring members in the constraining guide.
 18. A conveyoraccording to claim 10, wherein the drive-transferring members have sapes which are selected from a group of generally spherical andgenerally spheroidal shapes.
 19. A conveyor according to claim 3 whereinat least one of the drive-transferring members is engageable, via the atleast one aperture in the constraining guide, with at least one furthermember to cause motion of the further member.
 20. A conveyor accordingto claim 19, wherein at least one of the drive-transferring membersincludes a detent, accessible via the at least one aperture in theconstraining guide, for engaging said further member.
 21. A conveyoraccording to claim 19, wherein said further member is capable ofsupporting goods for transportation on the conveyor.
 22. A conveyoraccording to claim 3 wherein the drive assembly includes a poweredmember capable of imparting motion to a plurality of thedrive-transferring members in succession.
 23. A conveyor according toclaim 22 wherein the powered member protrudes via an aperture in theconstraining guide to drivingly contact the drive-transferring members.24. A conveyor according to claim 22 wherein the powered member includesa drivingly rotatable star wheel having points engageable with thedrive-transferring members.
 25. A conveyor according to claim 22 whereinthe powered member includes a toothed s rocket drivingly engageable withthe drive-transferring members.
 26. A conveyor according to claim 22including a plurality of said powered members.
 27. A conveyor accordingto claim 22 including a controller for controlling operation of thepowered member.
 28. A conveyor according to claim 3, wherein theconstraining guide is branched.
 29. A conveyor according to claim 3including at least one source of drive-transferring members for addingdrive-transferring members to the constraining guide.
 30. A conveyoraccording to claim 29 wherein said source of drive-transferring membercomprises a further constraining guide supporting at least onedrive-transferring member in an interior portion communicating with theinterior of said constraining guide.
 31. A conveyor according to claim 3wherein the constraining guide includes a least one aperture permittingremoval of drive-transferring members from the constraining guide.
 32. Aconveyor according to claim 31 wherein the at least one aperturepermitting removal of drive-transferring members is closeable.
 33. Aconveyor according to claim 32 including a receptacle connected to theconstraining guide for drive-transferring members removed from theconstraining guide.
 34. A conveyor according to claim 3, wherein atleast a portion of the constraining guide is rigid.
 35. A conveyoraccording to claim 3 wherein the means for conveying information issupported on an axle of a drive-transferring member.
 36. A conveyoraccording to claim 3 wherein said means for conveying informationincludes a portion that protrudes via the at least one aperture in saidconstraining guide, and aid portion carries encoded data.
 37. A conveyoraccording to claim 36 wherein said portion includes a detachably securedpart.
 38. A conveyor according to claim 37 wherein the said portionincludes means for supporting a further member.
 39. A conveyor accordingto claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the constraining guide extendsdownwardly and has a substantially helical shape.